George Shaw, Imperial Eagle superb bird of prey c1808

by Shaw, George

Grand-looking Imperial Eagle antique print for George Shaw.

Original copperplate engraving by London engraver, John Le Keux (1783-1846) for Zoological Lectures at the Royal Institution by George Shaw, published by George Kearsley in London c1808 (with later hand-colour).

George Shaw (1751-1813) qualified as a doctor in 1772, but changed careers in 1786 to become assistant lecturer in Botany at Oxford University. Co-founding the Linnaean Society in 1788, Shaw was made a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1789. Assistant Keeper of the Zoological Department at the British Museum from 1791 and Keeper from 1807, Shaw gave lectures at the Royal Institution and compiled illustrated books on wildlife.

Page size 215 x 130mm (8.5 x 5inches). This engraving is in excellent condition on good quality paper. Poorer quality paper was traditionally used for text, and the facing page with text is available - but age-discoloured, with offset image of the engraving from the facing page.